Gemotions

The sunlight seemed to mock her as she spotted the bear. There, nestled amongst some chipped teacups and a rusty gardening trowel, lay Pip, her once beloved. She felt a cold wave wash over her, followed by a tremor that made her hands shake. *How dare they.*

She recognized the embroidered heart on his tummy; she remembered painstakingly stitching it herself. Now, he was displayed as mere yard sale fodder. This was a betrayal of a sacred bond, a violation of something precious.

She pointed a trembling finger at the woman behind the table. "You... you don't understand," she began, the words catching in her throat. Her eyes welled. "This isn't just a *toy*." The woman, sensing the intensity, simply shrugged.